SEPTEMBER 21 , 2018 | SportsUnion 27
Staying fit and working on her game is an important aspect of playing both .
“ While you are playing one , you are keeping in shape for the one ,” stated Notaro . “ You also get to meet a wide variety of coaches and players . It keeps me busy athletically all year round , which keeps me organized in my everyday life and helps me stay on top of school work .”
During the soccer season , Notaro is a top defender for a Legends team that is poised to make a serious run in the playoffs this year . She is part of a very young nucleus that has come up together and been through the rigors of a Section VI season .
She knows to be a solid defender it comes down to communication . Being able to communicate on the back line is very important . If not everyone is on the same page it could lead to a goal .
“ Good communication and team work with fellow defenders is very important ,” stated Notaro . “ You also need to be physical and have a positive mindset because there is a lot of pressure on defenders . You also must know how to read the game and field , and how to position yourself on the field . Mental toughness is a necessity .
Being a top defender is all about grinding . Defenders don ’ t get the love like midfielders or forwards . Defenders do all the dirty work on the field . They go in hard to break up plays in the box . They need to be physical enough to be able to knock the opposing player off the ball .
Defenders can ’ t be afraid to get dirty . That ’ s the mental side of the game . Knowing that you won ’ t get there is no glory – only sorrow . If your team scores no one knows about you . If the other team scores everyone knows your name .
SEPTEMBER 21 , 2018 | SportsUnion 27
“ You need a positive mindset to be able to overcome challenges and pressure of being a defender and protecting the goal ,” stated Notaro . “ Defenders very rarely get the spotlight in high school soccer , so you have to be willing to be a team first type of player . Knowing that the play starts with smart and careful passes by the defense and it can end in a goal for your team .”
It ’ s a completely different mindset then playing the attack position in lacrosse . The Legends have had a lot of talented lacrosse players come through their system and Notaro hopes to be the next one . While she is a team first player in soccer , lacrosse sometimes calls on you to be a little selfish – especially with the ball on your stick and time running down .
You have to be able to switch over to me mode and take the game over if need be . Allie Stewart was one of those players that could just take a game over . If she wanted to score she would score . If she wanted to dish it off to someone else she could do that to .
It ’ s that type of mentality that makes a solid player even better .
“ One of the biggest things that I realized is that I was a different player when I wasn ’ t worried about communicating while having the ball at my feet ,” stated Notaro . “ I was faster and more aggressive , and this has suited me well as an attack in lacrosse . There has to be a different mindset , but both are rewarding and challenging .”
Both sports have been known to produce a lot of talent that has succeed at the next level . While a lot of people around WNY may know about the success of the lacrosse program sending girls to the next level , the soccer program is right on par .
Just recently the program had a young lady star at Erie Community College and also have placed girls on the rosters of Canisius College and the University at Buffalo . Each sport has its expectations and lacrosse is known for its scorers .
While she plays the attack position , Notaro doesn ’ t feel the pressure that comes with the position .
“ I don ’ t feel any pressure about comparing myself to players from the past ,” stated Notaro . “ My goal is to be at my best and to be the best I can be . Fortunately , a lot of the alumni that have gone onto play lacrosse in college come back to coach us during the summer and during the offseason . I feel like if I do my best and put in an honest effort in practice , and in games , that will be enough .”
Only a sophomore , Notaro was given the joy of being called up to varsity in both sports . Lacrosse she was promoted to the varsity while not even in high school yet . She followed in a long line of Legends players that was called up to play with the big club while still middle school .
This helped her get ready to play against bigger and stronger competition before she entered high school . It also allowed her to see what she needed to work on when it came to competing at the next level .
In soccer , the call came as a freshman as the team was getting ready for its playoff run . While a year later than lacrosse , it showed that all the hard work that Notaro was putting on the field was getting noticed and finally paying off .
“ It was super exciting to get called up to play with the varsity teams ,” stated Notaro . “ I was in eight grade for lacrosse and night grade for soccer . In both situations , I was excited and proud to play with teammates that
I respected and looked up to and would also push me to be at my best . Also , I was happy that the coaches felt that I developed enough to contribute .”
Contributing is exactly what Notaro plans on doing for both clubs . She worked hard in the offseason to for both sports to prove that she can be great in both . It ’ s a lot of pressure to put on one ’ s self . Training for both means no social life at times .
It means being dedicated when others are at the beach relaxing . It means grinding through 85 degree days with 9o percent humidity during the Buffalo summers . It means being the first person at practice and last one to leave .
“ In the summer , I would with a great strength and conditioning coach to get ready for the soccer season . I also participate in captain ’ s practices with the school team , and extra training . I also try to run a couple nights a week ,” stated Notaro . “ The offseason for lacrosse is mostly about continuing to get touches , working on stick work and staying in shape . These things are all accomplished with out of school leagues and extra training . I also often work on stick skills and shooting in my backyard when I free time or a day off .”
There was once a commercial out there that talk about this guy Bo Jackson . Bo was a once in a lifetime athlete . The commercial just stated Bo Knows .
Maybe one day they can change that to Jess Knows .